Use-tax measures fail, Hubbard maintains seat as county clerk

Lindsey Eick of Fulton casts her ballot Tuesday afternoon at the Callaway County Public Library. The library, Fulton City Hall, First Baptist Church and Southside Baptist Church acted as the polling places for the city of Fulton.
Lindsey Eick of Fulton casts her ballot Tuesday afternoon at the Callaway County Public Library. The library, Fulton City Hall, First Baptist Church and Southside Baptist Church acted as the polling places for the city of Fulton.

Much will stay the same in Callaway County and the city of Fulton after the Aug. 5 primary election, as determined by 7,267 voters in the county's 26 precincts.

Voters showed overwhelming support to keep the prosecuting attorney's position at full time. In the upcoming years, Callaway County will transition from a Class 1 to a Class 2 county. By statute, Class 2 counties must have a part-time prosecuting attorney unless voters choose otherwise, which they did Tuesday.

"I'm glad the citizens realized we need a full time prosecuting attorney," Callaway County Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann said Tuesday night.

According to Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson, felony cases in the county have jumped from 400 in 2002 to 600 in 2013, while misdemeanor cases have increased from 1,600 in 2002 to 3,600 in 2013.

Efforts made by the commission in support of a local use tax fell short at the polls. The Callaway County local use tax measure - imposing a local use tax on out-of-state purchases at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate (currently at one percent) - failed by 979 votes. A total of 3,966 citizens voted no on the measure.

Jungermann said he's "disappointed" the use tax measure failed, adding that the commission felt it was "in trouble" when Gov. Jay Nixon put the three-quarters-cent transportation tax on the ballot.

With increased education, Jungermann said he hopes the commission will be able to place the measure on the ballot in the future, yielding a "yes" result. He believes there might have been a misconception that the use tax meant an additional tax for in-state purchases.

"I'm hoping that a lot (of people) voted "no' because they weren't educated that it's not an additional tax," Jungermann said.

A similar measure through the city of Fulton also lost with 810 "no" votes to 480 "yes" votes. If approved, it would have imposed a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, which is currently 2 percent.

Incumbent Denise Hubbard will maintain her role as county clerk. She totaled 2,401 votes to Kathy Potter's 1,857 - a difference of 544 votes. Hubbard said she's grateful for the support she's received while she's been in her term and throughout her campaign.

"I think I owe my victory to God and all of those who supported me," she said.

Democratic nomination for representative in Missouri's 3rd congressional district

Courtney Denton: 15,608

Velma Steinman: 11,744

Republican nomination for representative in Missouri's 3rd congressional district

Blaine Luetkemeyer: 69,450

John Morris: 9,552

Leonard Steinman: 8,353

Amendment Results *Statewide results were not completed by press time. Results are as of 10 p.m.

Amendment No. 1 (Right to Farm)

Callaway County

Yes 3,547

No 3,601

Statewide

Yes 498,751

No 496,223

Amendment No. 5 (Right to Bear Arms)

Callaway County

Yes 4,766

No 2,305

Statewide

Yes 602,076

No 385,422

Amendment No. 7 (transportation sales tax)

Callaway County

Yes 3,425

No 3,734

Statewide

Yes 407,532

No 590,963

Amendment No. 8 (Veterans lotto ticket)

Callaway County

Yes 3,463

No 3,575

Statewide

Yes 440,369

No 538,575

Amendment No. 9 (electronic privacy)

Callaway County

Yes 5,343

No 1,680

Statewide

Yes 728,549

No 246,020